A Story From An Untold Character (Mary’s Midwife)

I was sweeping the fireplace ashes of the great big common room at the time my father opened the door of the foyer. I winced because I knew that we had no room. I held my breath as I listened to the voices. I couldn’t hear much because of the thick oak wall between us but I heard my father tell them to go to our manger.  I was slightly relieved but still tense on what might happen to them because it gets rather cold at night.

Then suddenly father burst into the room.

He is a middle aged man with a face that always anxious or nervous, twitching brown eyes, thin wobbly legs and arms and a mop of wild black hair that, no matter how he tries he can never comb down.  

“Where is your mother?” He asked, anxiously gripping the handle with wide eyes.

“She is at Amiad’s house watching his children.” I answered nervously standing up and brushing the soot of my dark blue dress

He flinched and said “Has she taught you how to deliver babies?”

“Of course!” I said promptly “I delivered one two days ago Papa. Don’t you remember?”

“Yes, yes now I do.” he bit his lip and shook his head quickly. “There was a couple and she was about to have a baby but you know we have no room so I gave them our barn. And now to make matters worse your mother is not here to help them deliver the baby!” He blurted out.

“Don’t worry Father! I can help them deliver the baby, just don’t worry.”

“Oh thank you child thank you! But are you sure you can do it?”

“Of course I can! Now go into your room and take a break, I got this.”

As father walked to his room, I went to the birch cabinet and pulled out some rags, scissors and various other things.  After everything was shoved into a bag I quickly grabbed a bucket and filled it half way. I set it down and grabbed my yellow cloak and lugged the bucket and bag to the thick door. I put them down and yanked open the door.

The wind gave a giant gust and I shivered, I squinted into the thick mist. I could not see the manger from here but I could tell that no light was coming from the distance so I grabbed a nearby lantern, lit it, and stuffed a dozen thick candles into my bag.

Then I lifted the bucket again and began to walk towards the manger. Even with my lantern held out in front of me I could not see much because of the thick fog that usually covered these early October nights. The leaves crunched beneath my feet as my cape wiped behind me offering no warmth or a sense of comfort.

When I had finally made it to the sturdy barn it was dark as I suspected it would be, so I ran toward the entrance. The woman looked so relieved that it seemed that she would cry. I stepped into the barn handed the lantern to the man and closed the door.

“Oh you savior! You angel, you have come to my need!” The woman cried.

She lay on a cream blanket against the hay. She had olive skin and deep brown eyes. She smiled weakly at me and winced.

“Mary, don’t hurt yourself.” The man said anxiously.

I did not say anything as I arranged everything from my bag against the hay. I handed the man the candles.

“Quick light these.” I said as he griped their smooth surface with his shaky hands digging his fingernails into the wax and making it flake like dead skin.

A while later Mary started to panic, but I was more than ready. I set to work delivering the child. Once the baby boy was out I wrapped him in a dark blue cloth and placed him in Mary’s arms. She smiled and looked at his eyes which matched her own as he cried. I smiled to. The man who had just finished lighting the last candle winced at the crying at first but then came and put his hand on his wife’s shoulder.

Suddenly the door flew open and blasted us all with sharp air. My brother Noam burst through the door along with Grandfather who carried a exhausted lamb. Shocked by the sight Noam began to sputter and mumble but Grandfather made no hesitation.

“May we rest in here Sara? This little lamb collapsed from the wind.” He said a caring tone, holding up our prized black lamb who lay shivering in Grandfather’s strong arms. The other sheep flowed in through the door as he spoke.

“Of course Grandfather! Come see this baby. His golden skin is so beautiful.” I said beaming.

Noam closed the door as the last she came bleating in and came forward with his leather boots crunching on dry straw. Grandfather sat next to me and Noam stood on the other side beaming.

“Come take a look outside, child. The heavens shine bright over this one.” He said still beaming.

I followed him out the door, intrigued as he opened the door. The air slapped my face like a fist made of ice, but then I saw it.

The star shone brightly just above the barn, it shone with the light of a thousand fires and was bigger then the baby’s warm brown eyes. I stared at it for a long time before my neck began to cramp and my legs shook from cold. I went back inside with Grandfather behind me.

Inside it looked like we had stepped into that star. The candles that now hung everywhere seemed to glow more brightly than ever. Noam had began to play a song on his flute and had lit a fire in the back fireplace which now began to warm the room. The baby who had been fed coed happily in his tiered mothers arms. The man was petting the sheep who now lay strewn across the hey in a tiered heep. And the other animals peeked out from their stables and pens and watched the baby with thoughtful eyes.

Happily I sat down on a stack of hay and sighed, my stomach growled audibly. It occurred to me that none of us had probably eaten since lunch.

Noam smiled at me knowingly and began to pull out goat cheeses and bread from his bag. The man brought out meat and milk catching the idea that it was time for dinner. Grandfather went out into the chicken coop and brought in six eggs.

We ate a decent dinner and went to bed on the hay.

We ended up staying the night in the barn and left in the morning.  Grandfather, Noam and I walked through the wet leaves and back to the inn.

Later that week we got a room at our inn, and welcomed the Mary and the man and the baby. They were very grateful to get out of the hay and relax on a bed.

They ended up staying for 2 weeks and when they left they promised to come back.

Then Mary, Joseph and Jesus rode out on their donkey towards a great adventure.

(no I am not religious)